Unravelling the Interactions Between Plant Roots and Microbial Communities for Optimized Nutrient Synergy and Symbiotic Development

Plant roots and their associated microbial communities form complex and dynamic interactions that are critical for nutrient acquisition, soil health, and plant resilience. These interactions, which occur primarily in the rhizosphere, influence plant growth by facilitating the exchange of nutrients and the establishment of symbiotic relationships. Recent advances in molecular biology and microbial ecology have revealed the diversity and functional capabilities of rhizosphere microorganisms, highlighting their pivotal roles in promoting plant health. As the demand for sustainable agricultural practices increases, understanding these interactions presents an opportunity to optimize crop performance while minimizing the environmental impact.

The aim of this Research Topic is to deepen our understanding of how plant roots interact with microbial communities to achieve optimized nutrient synergy and symbiotic development. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in fully comprehending the molecular mechanisms and ecological dynamics of these interactions. By addressing these challenges, strategies can be developed to enhance nutrient efficiency and symbiotic relationships in agricultural systems. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing, metagenomics, and synthetic biology offer new avenues for exploring plant-microbe interactions at an unprecedented level of detail. This Research Topic seeks to address key questions, such as how specific microbial taxa contribute to nutrient cycling, the role of root exudates in shaping microbial communities, and how environmental factors influence these interactions.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that explore various facets of plant-microbe interactions related to nutrient synergy and symbiotic development. We invite submissions in the form of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on topics including, but not limited to:

• Molecular signaling and communication between plant roots and microbial communities.
• Functional diversity and roles of rhizosphere microbiomes in nutrient uptake.
• Innovations in biofertilizers and biostimulants derived from microbial communities.
• Biotechnological innovations for manipulating microbial communities in agriculture.
• Case studies on successful implementation of microbial symbiosis in agriculture.
• The role of environmental factors in shaping root-microbe relationships.
• Strategies for enhancing mycorrhizal associations and nitrogen-fixing symbioses.
• Technological advances in studying root microbiomes.

By compiling diverse insights on these themes, this Topic aims to advance our knowledge of plant-microbe interactions, contributing to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Rhizosphere, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Nutrient Cycling, Mycorrhizal Associations, Nitrogen Fixation, Soil Health, Sustainable Agriculture, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, Plant Roots, Symbiotic development, Root-microbe interactions, Microbial biofilms, Plant resistance genes, Soil microbiome, Ecosystem dynamics, Microbial consortia

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.